According to the Secretariat, the arrests took place a few weeks ago. The individuals were later granted bail but remain subjects of investigation as the audit continues.

Although details of the alleged offences and audit findings have not yet been made public, the arrests have drawn significant attention to the Secretariat’s internal management practices.

This development follows recent concerns about irregularities allegedly committed under the previous leadership of the institution.

The current Registrar, Alexander Asafo-Agyei, raised these concerns shortly after assuming office in February 2025.

In an interview on Adom TV on June 10, 2025, Mr. Asafo-Agyei criticised what he described as a lack of transparency and accountability in the Secretariat’s past operations.

He reaffirmed his commitment to restoring integrity and ensuring proper oversight within the institution.

Source: Adomonline

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The policy analyst cautioned that such actions do not align with the leadership tone set by President Mahama or the maturity Ghana’s democracy has achieved.

Speaking on Joy News’ Newsfile, Senyo Hosi questioned the judgment behind what appeared to be a dramatic enforcement response to the yet-unsubstantiated claims made by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence Committee.

“Did we really need to have that grandstanding trying to arrest the man?” Senyo Hosi asked. “I think that our democracy has moved on. This showmanship was not necessary. It’s not reflective of the tone of the President. It’s not reflective of the maturity that we’ve attained.”

Rev. Ntim Fordjour had alleged that aircraft carrying “suspicious content” had landed in Ghana, suggesting possible involvement in illicit activities such as narcotics trafficking or money laundering. However, the MP has yet to provide evidence, and his claims have sparked significant public interest and a response from national security agencies.

Senyo Hosi, however, argued that the over-the-top approach to apprehend the MP was avoidable and damaging to Ghana’s democratic and civic culture.

“All we needed to do was wait for the report,” he insisted. “Should Ntim Fordjour cooperate with the agency? I think Article 4, Section 41 is very clear about that — we are supposed to collaborate with our law enforcement agencies.”

While acknowledging that public trust in government processes can be fragile, especially in a polarized environment, Hosi emphasized that the way forward must be based on institutional process and mutual respect, not public spectacle or political brinkmanship.

“He [Ntim Fordjour] will tell you that because of government’s communication, he lost trust in the process. I can respect that to a certain extent,” Senyo Hosi added.

He concluded by urging all involved parties to work towards putting the matter to rest in a manner that reflects proper procedure and respect for democratic principles.

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Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr. Bentil questioned the legality and conduct of the operation, which reportedly involved armed officers who failed to identify themselves or present a warrant.

“This whole idea of them going to arrest somebody in his house, there are so many levels to it. Even if the person has committed a crime and you want to arrest him, you need a warrant,” he stated. “If you arrest him, he doesn’t have to say anything. You have to do the investigations, show him what crime he has committed, put him before a court and have him prosecuted.”

He further expressed concern about the NIB’s approach, saying, “Going there without a warrant, going there without showing your face, going there armed, is just not right.”

Mr. Bentil defended Rev. Fordjour’s right to free speech, especially in his capacity as a legislator. “Every one of us has the right to freedom of speech. You can say whatever you want to say as long as you don’t insult somebody or commit a crime. That includes voicing out suspicions.”

Citing Article 41 of Ghana’s Constitution, he argued that citizens are not only permitted but encouraged to hold public officers accountable. “As a citizen, he can also question public officers all the way to the president. Public officers owe it to the citizenry to answer candidly, honestly, and to the best of their ability using state resources.”

Mr. Bentil questioned the justification for the attempted arrest. “To the extent that Ntim Fordjour is asking questions and demanding answers, he has not committed any crime. He is a Member of Parliament and has every right to do so.”

He added, “If he has made allegations that are not true, it is the responsibility of the one claiming it’s a crime to prove so in court. He [Rev. Fordjour] does not have to cooperate in his own investigation.”

Mr. Bentil concluded by urging restraint and adherence to legal protocols, stressing the importance of upholding democratic rights and processes.

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“I charge all Party faithful to remain calm, steadfast, and law-abiding in this period of unfortunate political persecution,” he said, boosting the morale of party members.

He also called on President John Mahama to take control of security agencies and prevent the politicization of state institutions.

“The security institutions of our country must not be reduced to political tools used to harass and intimidate opponents,” Dr. Bawumia emphasized.

Dr. Bawumia condemned the actions of the security officials, describing them as a “descent into lawlessness and fear.” He stressed the urgent need for professionalism and accountability within Ghana’s security services.

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This comes after operatives of the NIB stormed the home of Assin South MP and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Interior and Defence Committee, Rev Ntim Fordjour, to execute an arrest warrant.

In an interview with the press at the home of the MP, Mr Kodua expressed his disappointment over how the situation was handled, describing the chaos that erupted as “needless and unwarranted.”

According to him, Ghana is a country governed by the rule of law, not the rule of men, and therefore, appropriate legal procedures should have been followed in inviting a sitting Member of Parliament.

“We are a country governed by the rule of law, not the rule of men. As a Member of Parliament, there are clear constitutional provisions and procedures by which an MP can be invited. The first question we want to ask the current administration is: Was that process followed? The answer is no.”

Mr Kodua further argued that if the authorities were acting in good faith, they would have written officially to the Speaker of Parliament to request the MP’s appearance before any security agency, in line with constitutional requirements, “but not this ‘rambo-style’ approach.”

He questioned why the government would choose to create such tension over an invitation when no crime had been committed by the MP involved.

“In fact, the chaos this morning was unnecessary. If the MP has not committed any crime, then this approach was totally uncalled for. At this point, we are even expecting the government to commend him, not harass him,” he added.

Rev Ntim Fordjour has alleged that two aircraft, which recently landed in the country, were involved in money laundering and illicit drug trafficking. He has since called on the government to investigate the matter and address the public on the issue.

Following his statement in a press briefing at Parliament, the government’s spokesperson, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, responded, refuting the allegations and describing his comments as false.

He explained that the aircraft had landed in the country due to minor technical faults and other legitimate reasons.

The development has since sparked political tension between the two major parties, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

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